Genocide witness disappears
May 09, 2008
A protected witness, who was to re-testify before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha to confess to a false testimony, disappeared on Tuesday just a few hours he was to appear.
Arusha
A protected witness, who was to re-testify before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha to confess to a false testimony, disappeared on Tuesday just a few hours he was to appear.
The UN security service was immediately ordered to investigate how the witness, known only by the code “GFAâ€, disappeared from a safe house where he had been staying.
The witness was being guarded by the Tanzanian police that was supervised by the tribunal’s officers, according to Hirondelle Agency, a news agency.
The tribunal spokesman, Roland Amoussouga, said efforts were underway to track down the witness.
Arusha regional police commander Basilio Mateo said he was not aware of the incident but promised to look into the matter.
GFA had testified in several trials currently, including the on-going government II trial, which brings together in a joint case of four former Rwandan ministers accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in 1994.
The four ministers are: Casimir Bizimungu (health), Prosper Mugiraneza (civil service), Justin Mugenzi (commerce) and Jerome Bicamumpaka (foreign affairs). All have pleaded not guilty.
Recently, GFA contacted Bicamumpaka’s defence team and admitted that he had lied in his statement to get released from prison in Rwanda, where he was facing the 1994 genocide charges.
Bicamumpaka’s defence team was authorised to meet GFA in the presence of a member of the prosecution team.
The meeting took place in Kampala, Uganda.
Agencies
A protected witness, who was to re-testify before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha to confess to a false testimony, disappeared on Tuesday just a few hours he was to appear.
The UN security service was immediately ordered to investigate how the witness, known only by the code “GFAâ€, disappeared from a safe house where he had been staying.
The witness was being guarded by the Tanzanian police that was supervised by the tribunal’s officers, according to Hirondelle Agency, a news agency.
The tribunal spokesman, Roland Amoussouga, said efforts were underway to track down the witness.
Arusha regional police commander Basilio Mateo said he was not aware of the incident but promised to look into the matter.
GFA had testified in several trials currently, including the on-going government II trial, which brings together in a joint case of four former Rwandan ministers accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in 1994.
The four ministers are: Casimir Bizimungu (health), Prosper Mugiraneza (civil service), Justin Mugenzi (commerce) and Jerome Bicamumpaka (foreign affairs). All have pleaded not guilty.
Recently, GFA contacted Bicamumpaka’s defence team and admitted that he had lied in his statement to get released from prison in Rwanda, where he was facing the 1994 genocide charges.
Bicamumpaka’s defence team was authorised to meet GFA in the presence of a member of the prosecution team.
The meeting took place in Kampala, Uganda.
Agencies